I’m kind of a golf nut. OK, truth be told, I am more a golf addict. But please don’t hold that against me – we all have our burdens to bear. A couple of weeks ago, as I was watching the PGA Championship – the year’s final major championship – I noticed something that the eventual winner, Jason Day, did before every shot. And I realized it has a direct correlation to your success as a Project Manager.

What did he do that caused me to take notice? Before every shot, he would go through his pre-shot routine that included standing behind his ball, closing his eyes, and visualizing the shot he was about to take.

Yes, he stopped, closed his eyes and saw the shot before he even addressed the ball. He would go on to say afterward that he also continually visualized himself holding the winner’s trophy. He was literally visualizing his success. One of the keys to Jason’s success is his ability to see what success looks like, and then execute on his vision. As a result he has propelled himself to the #4 world ranking in professional golf.

“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.” – Robert Collier

So, what’s the big deal about that, and what does that have to do with your success? Let me give you 3 ways that visualization can lead you to greater performance at work (or anywhere else, for that matter).

1. Visualizing a positive outcome causes you to focus on your desired outcome rather than the undesirable ones.When Jason is standing there in his visualization process, he is blocking out all but the desired outcome. He doesn’t stand there thinking, “Now Jason, don’t hit it in the water of bunker.” No, he’s thinking of exactly where he wants his ball to land, and how it will roll to its final position.

I see this one play out pretty consistently with my clients. I will ask them, “What do you want?” And much of the time they will launch into a list of all the things they don’t want. Here’s the challenge with that; you are giving focus and energy to what you don’t want. And where focus goes, energy flows; meaning you’re far more likely to get what you focus on. By visualizing the outcome that you want, you block out competing thoughts and ideas, align your internal resources, and focus your efforts and energy on producing a positive outcome.

2. Visualizing can help boost your confidence. As amazing as our human brains are, there is a simple but powerful quirk that we can totally take advantage of. Namely, your brain does not know the difference between a vividly imagined thought and what is happening in the world around you right now.

This means that if you can vividly imagine yourself doing something that you desire, and do so repeatedly, it becomes hardwired into your brain just like your other memories. And that will provide you with a much-needed boost of confidence if the thing you’re about to attempt is the least bit daunting. In your mind, you will have already accomplished it. Don’t believe me? Think about the last time you had a vivid dream that felt real, and when you woke up you could swear it happened. If you can picture that dream right now as you read these words, that is because it has been hardwired into your mind just like your other memories. So visualize when you have a difficult or challenging task and gain confidence.

“I believe that visualization is one of the most powerful means of achieving personal goals.” – Harvey Mackay

3. Visualizing can increase your focus and assist in the planning process. Stephen Covey said that in order for us to achieve our goals, we must “Begin with the end in mind.” What he meant by that is we must first see the results we hope to create before we take any action toward its achievement. Then when we have a clear vision of the outcome we desire, we can plan for the resources we will need to have or acquire in order to achieve our vision. Reverse engineer your steps based on the outcome you create in your mind.

Having a clear vision of your goal helps to laser focus your efforts toward the achievement of that goal. You can enhance your focus and block out distractions. As you take action toward that clear outcome, keep this thought in mind, “Does this action take me closer to, or further away from my desired goal?”

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” – Napoleon Hill

So, there it is. The power of visualization. Or as I’ve been known to call it, “Daydreaming With Purpose.” I invite you to begin to cultivate this skill and use it to your advantage as you work toward setting and achieving your goals in work and life. Remember that everything around us – from the physical world of material things you see and use everyday, to the ideas, software, and non-material – was first created in someone’s mind. It all started as an idea, a visualization, a spark in someone’s imagination. Visualize your future, execute on that vision, and see how that affects your ability to create success in your work and life.

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Human Factor Formula

Meet Kevin Ciccotti

Kevin Ciccotti, CPCC, PCC, is an authority in helping leaders to build stronger, more sustainable relationships with their teams, helping them to drive engagement, increase productivity, and lead to greater overall success. He is passionate about helping leaders to create an environment in which their people can thrive and achieve their full potential. Read More...